Conservatism’s Sharpest Voices, Curated Weekly | ISI’s Intercollegiate Review brings you the best in serious conservative thought.
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CATEGORY: INTERNATIONAL (10 MIN)
America’s New Tone with Europe
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President Donald Trump’s administration has created much division of opinion abroad. Some media outlets in major European allies of the U.S. have blasted America’s leadership for taking an aggressive stance towards the Old World’s traditional powers. But other nations and leaders have praised the results of the 2024 election and the new administration’s policy positions. These all agree on one thing: Trump has brought major change to America’s relationship with Europe.
Sohrab Ahmari, writing in UnHerd
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, discusses his recent interview with Vice President JD Vance on the Trump administration’s dealings with Europe. Ahmari and Vance talked about the recent increase in tariffs on European nations, which were followed by a partial reduction. Vance said the goal of the tariff policy is to reduce trade deficits that have allowed countries to make American markets “absorb their surplus exports.”
Ahmari asked Vance about the overall reasons for the Trump administration’s harsher tone in cross-Atlantic affairs. Vance argued that Europe’s current position as the “permanent security vassal of the United States” is a bad thing, and he hopes European leaders plan to take their role and their voters’ motivations more seriously. Vance emphasized that this is especially important in regard to their nations’ militaries and immigration.
Ahmari’s conversation with Vance touched on many other topics, such as the Ukraine-Russia war, immigration policy, and even Vance’s social media habits. To learn more, read Ahmari’s piece right here
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Read Now
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Weekly Poll
Should the US pressure European leaders to take more responsibility for their nations?
[A] Yes
[B] No
[C] Unsure
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RESULTS: 4/10/2025
Should the US focus more on trade with India?
[A] Yes - 57.1%
[B] No - 25.7%
[C] Unsure - 17.1%
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CATEGORY: ECONOMY (36 MIN)
Trades and trade-offs
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The global marketplace has entered a time of major uncertainty in the wake of the Trump administration’s recent tariff increases. Some scholars argue that the tariffs are a net negative for both the American and the world economy, while economists and policymakers on board with the changes have argued they will bring long-term success.
For The New York Times
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and his podcast Interesting Times, ISI alum Ross Douthat interviews Oren Cass, the economist who founded American Compass, on the advantages and disadvantages of the Trump tariff policies. Cass argues that although the stock market has been successful in recent years (with the major exception of the pandemic), “the actual well-being and flourishing” of middle-class Americans has declined.
Douthat questions the connection between this concept of human flourishing and trade policy. Cass answers by pointing to the loss of manufacturing jobs that diversify opportunities for young men and provide good wages for those with less education. Cass places much of the blame for this trend with globalization, which he believes has generated “well-placed frustration” with working Americans.
Douthat also asks whether an overall drop in economic prosperity, especially as measured by usual metrics, is worth the effort to help blue-collar America. Cass replies that it is a “trade-off we should be willing to make,” arguing that the direction tariffs take the country in is “much stronger and healthier” in the long run.
To learn more, listen to the podcast episode (or read the transcript) with our NYT guest link here
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Read Now
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CATEGORY: VIDEO
What Does It Mean to Order Our Loves Rightly?
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What does it mean to order our loves rightly? In this insightful conversation, Tom Sarrouf is joined by Dr. Chad Pecknold, a theologian and professor at The Catholic University of America, to explore ordo amoris—the proper ordering of love—and its profound relevance for the Catholic Church today.
They dive into the roots of this concept, tracing its development through the works of Augustine and Aquinas, and discuss how disordered love impacts both individual lives and the broader culture. The conversation also touches on the crucial role the Church plays in restoring moral and social order, and why the conservative vision depends on rightly ordered affections.
Watch Now
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CATEGORY: ECONOMY (5 MIN)
Stocks vs. Substance: What Is Real Wealth?
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Most Americans, upon hearing of a drastic change in the Dow Jones, will immediately think of their retirement accounts and perhaps pull them up to see the damage or gain. Of course, recessions and good economic times have deep impacts on the overall system if they persist, but humans by nature are more apt to ask: what does this mean for me today?
For this week’s article from the Modern Age
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website, Gene Callahan and Robert P. Murphy ask whether the recent drop in the stock market has actually harmed American wealth. They both say no, basing their answer on the definition of “wealth” and the practical impact of market losses. The authors believe Americans are often confused about the difference between prices and actual wealth.
“The stock market decline has not leveled any buildings or rendered any machines inoperable,” Callahan and Murphy write. “America is just as full of farms, warehouses, railroads, and oil wells as it was when the stock market was at its peak.”
That being said, the authors are not sure about the future results of this “market decline.” In one future, trade wars might cripple the world economic system, which would eventually hurt U.S. wealth. But Callahan and Murphy could also see a world where American tariffs lead to lower across-the-board tariffs or at least help average Americans.
Read more of the authors’ article here on the Modern Age
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website.
Read Now
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Thought of the Day:
“If, by the necessity of the thing, manufactures should once be established, and take root among us, they will pave the way still more to the future grandeur and glory of America; and, by lessening its need of external commerce, will render it still securer against the encroachments of tyranny.”
- Alexander Hamilton
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